At a higher level than the River, the canal is entered via the sea lock at Sharpness or by locking up from the Severn at Gloucester.

It is still a commercial waterway but it is now mainly used by pleasure boats.

It can accomodate vesels upto 240 ft in length and 30 ft beam.

Boats require a licence obtainable from Canal & River Trust for cruising on the canal.  Restrictions to navigation occur during the winter period.

The entrance to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal from the River Severn.

The narrrow lock entrance is on the left.  The channel on the right leads toward Llanthony weir.

There is often, especially on an ebb tide, a strong current across the lock entrance pulling you towards the weir.

A familiar site in Gloucester Docks and on the Sharpness canal is the excursion boat the 'King Arthur'.

There are several other cruise and excursion boats working the canal.

The wide ship canal is some 14 nautical miles long and is punctuated by many swing and 1 bascule bridge.  The bridges are manned, or operated by cctv, and are controlled by traffic lights on the bank; there are plans to make some bridges user operated.

There are few problems for navigation but because of the exposed site of the canal, strong and gusty winds pose a common hazard.

Thick accumulations of water weed may be encountered in summer, often concentrated in the southern section of the canal.

The canal traverses remote and pleasant countryside and offers views of the Severn Estuary , the Cotswolds and the distant hills of Wales.  A number of canal side pubs are easily accessible.

Junction (Saul) bridge marks the crossing of the disused Stroudwater (Cotswold) canal that once linked the Severn and the Thames. There are plans to re open this link.

The wildlife center at Slimbridge is only a short walk from the bridge at Patch.

Several vantage points to view the Severn Bore are within walking distance from the Sharpness Canal.